8. Guns ‘n Roses

THE O2 ARENA

13 OCTOBER 2010

You had one job, Axl. Just one job: to get on stage on time and remind us why we cared in the first place. But apparently, in Axl’s world, “punctuality” ranks somewhere below “finding the right leather jacket.” An hour late, twenty thousand people collectively rolling their eyes, and finally he lumbers out, looking like he’s been stuffed into those ripped skinny jeans by a team of crisis negotiators. At this point, waiting for Axl Rose has gone from “rock ‘n’ roll rebellion” to “painful endurance exercise.”

And after the grand entrance? A three-hour marathon set so padded with musical filler it could double as sound insulation. Look, we know Guns N’ Roses didn’t exactly drown us in albums; four, tops, if you squint and count Use Your Illusion as two. But did anyone need to hear every single B-side, extended solo, and keyboard flourish they’ve ever attempted?

When you’re relying on covers to bulk out the setlist, that’s probably a hint that maybe, just maybe, you don’t have three hours of material. Then there’s the elephant in the room, or rather, the Slash-less space on the stage. Guns N’ Roses at this point is basically Axl Rose and a backing band doing their best impressions. Where’s the bloke in the hat, Axl?

He manages to just about hit the notes on “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, but without Slash to rip into that solo, it’s like watching a fireworks show on a black and white telly. For every genuinely good moment, there were twice as many drawn-out piano solos and “intimate” covers that did little more than stretch the crowd’s patience to breaking point.

By the end, any respect Axl might have salvaged was left lying crumpled on stage alongside the last of his dignity. Axl, buddy, showing up late used to be “rock star behaviour.” Now, it’s just bloody rude.